Artbooth Gallery in Abu Dhabi is set to host ‘Reimagined,’ a solo exhibition by the Palestinian-Syrian-Dutch artist Oussama Diab, running from September 17 through October 31. This collection represents a significant milestone in Diab’s career, showcasing a series of reinterpretations of renowned Western art masterpieces. By engaging with iconic works from artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Michelangelo, Pablo Picasso, and Anthony van Dyck, Diab applies his own visual language—forged through experiences of displacement and resilience—to historic compositions.
Reflecting on the project’s long development, Diab noted that the series began in 2013 with his mural ‘New Guernica.’ He stated, “It took me 13 years to complete this body of work, and I’m very happy to finally present it in Abu Dhabi.” Born in Damascus in 1977, Diab’s life and work have been shaped by conflict, migration, and the pursuit of renewal. After graduating from Damascus University’s Faculty of Fine Arts, he built his career in Syria and Lebanon before moving to Europe in 2015, eventually settling in the Netherlands.
Diab’s work consistently explores the human condition, focusing on themes of survival, loss, and hope. As a stateless Palestinian, he has lived the reality of a refugee, and his art serves as a meditation on justice, violence, and the endurance of the human spirit. Rather than focusing on political documentation, he aims to capture the inner lives of people, emphasizing compassion and the universal search for humanity, memories, and dreams. He seeks to reveal what it means to be human amidst adversity, prioritizing these principles over direct political commentary.
In ‘Reimagined,’ Diab enters a dialogue with history by transforming canonical images to speak to contemporary realities. His technique, characterized by expressive brushwork and an emotionally charged color palette, breathes new life into familiar subjects. Highlights of the exhibition include two reinterpretations of Picasso’s ‘Guernica,’ which reflect the artist’s personal understanding of conflict, as well as ‘La Coiffure’ after Picasso. The exhibition also features reinterpretations of Anthony van Dyck’s ‘Jupiter and Antiope’ and ‘Moses and the Serpent,’ alongside two sunflower paintings inspired by Vincent van Gogh.
The exhibition challenges the notion that great art is static, suggesting instead that masterpieces evolve through reinterpretation and the perspectives of different eras. By filtering these iconic images through his own artistic vocabulary, Diab invites viewers to reconsider the relevance of classical works in the modern world. His paintings bridge historical narratives with personal experience, creating a conversation between tradition and innovation, and between collective memory and individual identity.
Artbooth Gallery, founded in 2019 by Roger El Khoury, aims to foster cross-cultural dialogue through its curated programs. The gallery notes that ‘Reimagined’ aligns with its commitment to presenting artists who engage critically with history and identity. Diab’s work has been featured in major institutions such as the Museum Arnhem, the Busan Museum of Art, Fondazione Giorgio Cini, and Samsung Blue Square in Seoul. His pieces are also included in significant collections, including the Dubai Collection, the Samawi Collection, and the Ramzi and Saeda Dalloul Art Foundation. With locations in Abu Dhabi and Seoul, Artbooth Gallery continues to support both emerging and established artists from around the globe. The report also notes that the artist says: “I started working on the Reimagined series in 2013 with the first work, New Guernica, a mural that marked the beginning of the series, reflecting on the long journey behind the series. The report also notes that justice and injustice, violence and struggle, human suffering and loss, his work has constantly reflected on the questions relating to humanity and freedom. The report also notes that such questions are never far away, those issues concerned him from an early age: living in a region characterised by violence and profound political turmoil. The report also notes that he has always been moved by compassion and by hope too – something he always wants to express in his work, despite having experienced war and loss first-hand. The report also notes that while rooted in art historical references, Reimagined is not an exercise in imitation.
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